We suckle like babe to bottle on black gold. Our lungs breath in that sweet, sweet crude, even as the canary chirps on the window sill. The laws we enact pound down billions in quarterly profits while a media lens pities all that those poor misunderstood fat cat executives sacrifice to deliver us to the American Dream. And we hum the battle hymn of the republic, “drill baby, drill.” Just so long as the oil is cheap, and their sand stays the hell out of our way.

A favorite topic on the PTTP site is oil. And its grip — its pervasive infiltration is driving our very existence. From cheap energy mind, to cheap energy lifestyle.

But in the everywhere that is this fossil fuel economy, there is impending reality: the way we do things is not sustainable, there is no longview, and we won’t be able to do it much longer. Hence, the task at hand. Change the cheap energy mindset, change the cheap energy way we do things. Problem solved. Read the rest of this entry »

The world of professional graphic design is definitely becoming more “with it.” Through the efforts of groups like AIGA, Art Director’s Club, and The Designer’s Accord along with socially conscious networks like Design 21, there are more and more resources available to designers to connect with work that really makes a difference. Social justice, environmental sustainability, corporate responsibility; ideas like these are becoming top of mind, with the appropriate interest and effort behind them to really have impact.

When we were developing this project, it was meant to be a blast of thought. Concise and to the point, touching on a wide array of issues that are important to us. And with that, what’s important to you the viewer, contributor, participant. We make no apologies for our approach to the world — call it liberal, progressive, far left, whatever. We merely wanted to share what moves us and leave open a platform for you to share what moves you. Because as we see it, something has to. Read the rest of this entry »

In a crowded ballroom in downtown Omaha we listened to President-Elect Obama address the nation. Indeed, change has come to America. Yes we did make this possible. Yes it will be a difficult road ahead. And yes we are ready to come together.

Once he concluded to that huge crowd in Grant Park and eager onlookers around the world, “Yes We Can,” cheers filled the room and I turned to a woman next to me. With tears in her eyes she said, “can you believe he’s our president?”

I replied simply, “no.” Read the rest of this entry »

There’s a moment that comes along every so often. It’s ready to move millions and ready to unite the masses for the common good. In that moment, the restless and the hopeful, those treaded upon and beaten down, and those who see that there is something greater in all of us if only we could collectively push forward, all come together in the tides of history.

And we are sparked by an unlikely catalyst that offers a path of progress that could lead to the world we want, the world we so desperately need. Read the rest of this entry »

Celebrate Columbus (1992)
James Victore
Self published Poster
Correcting the legacy, a history of genocide.
-jk- 

Opening night of our Citizen Exhibition in Lincoln was experienced by hundreds of people, raised some funds for a Democrat’s Congressional race, and offered super-addictive Vote cookies baked by the lovely Katie Kemerling. The exhibition itself, designed in three parts, displayed perfectly in the newly renovated arts and culture building of downtown.

Read the rest of this entry »

Just wanted to give a monster shout out to some sites operating in a similar fashion as PTTP. Keep it up!
- JH

Design For Obama
Good 50×70
AIGA - Get Out The Vote
Green Patriot Posters

Five weeks until Election Day. One debate down. VP’s on Thursday. Economy in Crisis. And plenty of things that still need to be talked about. It’s time to rally the citizenry, get out there, and raise some hell. 

We’ll be showcasing the posters on this site and some limited edition screen prints to visualize our hope that we will, as a united people, begin to Brighten America. -jk-

Power To The Poster: Citizen Exhibition
a group of graphic designers comment on the issues of our time

First Friday, October 3rd, 2008
7–10 pm
On display October 3–31
1416 O Street, Studio 11, Chocolate Cake Design
Lincoln, Nebraska 

The following is a work in progress, are words or phrases certain people will use as reasons for not doing things, are great cloaking devices, makes me chuckle.

The Liberal Media. Socialized Medicine. Big Government Is the Problem. The Free Market. The Patriot Act. Free Trade. They Want to Raise Your Taxes. They Are Taking Your Jobs. They Hate Our Freedom. Pro-Life. War On Terror. Trickle-Down Economics. Small Town Values. Family Values. Pull Yourself Up By Your Bootstraps. Liberal Latte Drinking Elites. It Would Hurt the Economy. The United States Does Not Torture. Out of My Cold Dead Hands. What’s In It for Me. An Imminent Threat. Ownership Society. They’re Just Lazy. Unlimited Growth. 9/11 Changed Everything. The American Dream. -jk-

by Jason Hardy

Graphic design is, in a large part, about the interplay of positive and negative space. The empty areas of a page are just as, if not more, important than those areas that are filled in. One can’t exist without the other, but for the most part, we don’t even see those areas that aren’t filled in. Going through our days, walking down the street, riding the bus, we don’t see that space around a beautifully set Helvetica Bold 5. We don’t see all the little hidden shapes that work together to make a sign say “Stop.”

But its what we don’t see that creates the world we do see. Read the rest of this entry »